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Lecturer(s)
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Course content
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1. Southeast Europe - Introduction Geographical, cultural, and political definition of Southeast Europe and the Balkans, overview of nations, ethnic groups, languages, and religions. 2. Southeast and Central Europe The relationship between Southeast and Central (Middle Eastern) Europe. Perceptions of Czechs and the Czech Republic in Southeast Europe. Czechs in the Balkans, Croats in Moravia. 3. The Balkans, Balkanism, and Orientalism Orientalist and Balkanist discourses. "Civilization mission." The influence of the Iron Curtain. 4. Anthropological discourses Interpretations by foreign and domestic ethnologists and anthropologists. Institutionalization of ethnology, anthropology, archaeology, and history. Critical perspectives on the study of Southeast Europe. 5. Historical overview The formation of Southeast Europe as a region. Conditions that shaped society. Pre-modern forms of identity. Social history. Economic history. 6. The advent of the modern era Nationalism. Transformations of traditional identity. The development of modern national sentiment. The search for the origins and formation of modern languages. Industrialization and modernization. 7. Mutual conflicts Authoritarian and totalitarian regimes. Nationalist mobilization. Wars and their legacy. Post-communist transformation. 8. Ethnicity and identity Ethnic sentiment. Transformations of ethnicity. National symbols. Language, its codification, and disputes over it. Minorities and their status. Religious communities. Gender. 9. Society and politics Political systems, parties, and elections. Elites and classes. Social networks and social cleavages. 10. Society and economy Historical circumstances of the formation of capitalism. Communist and post-communist economies. The social background of the economy. Labor migration. Organized crime. 11. Social relations Historical conditions. Family and kinship. Neighborhood. Friends and classmates. Other social ties. Geographic and social mobility. Lowlands and mountains. The countryside and cities. The influence of urbanization. 12. Social culture The traditional year and rituals. Social customs and associated rituals. Everyday culture. Patterns of behavior. Food, drink, and sleep. Subcultures. Slang. Intercultural communication. Business culture. 13. Place in the global world Mutual relations. Relations with the Czech Republic, Central European countries, the West, the EU, NATO, Russia, China, Turkey, Middle Eastern countries, and other international actors. National branding.
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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unspecified, Monologic (reading, lecture, briefing), Dialogic (discussion, interview, brainstorming)
- Home preparation for classes
- 13 hours per semester
- Contact teaching
- 26 hours per semester
- Preparation for an exam
- 40 hours per semester
- Independent critical reading
- 20 hours per semester
- Term paper
- 20 hours per semester
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Learning outcomes
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The course introduces and explains the cultures and societies of the countries, regions, nations, and ethnic groups of Southeast Europe from various perspectives in order to give students a comprehensive picture. It is designed to bridge the gap between anthropology on the one hand and history, sociology, political science, and economics on the other. It contains the necessary overview parts, but the emphasis is on insider knowledge with a balanced emic (understanding) and ethical (explanation) approach. The interpretation also incorporates the views of anthropologists from the region and their discussions with the academic sphere outside the region. The central theme and connecting thread is "man in a network of relationships."
The term "Balkans" is not primarily geographical, but rather a cultural, social, and political concept, and students will learn how to work with it. This will strengthen their ability to approach the research phenomena neutrally and examine them on their own merits. The course will provide them with a general overview of the main forces that have shaped the history of the region to the present day and an insight into the life and institutions that they will be able to compare with those in the Czech Republic. They will also learn about EU and NATO policies towards the region and the approach and attitudes of selected countries towards it, including a detailed overview of Czech policy.
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Prerequisites
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Students are expected to have a basic understanding of the political and geographical realities of Southeast Europe.
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Assessment methods and criteria
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Oral examination, Home assignment evaluation
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Recommended literature
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BUDILOVÁ, Lenka J. Od krevní msty k postsocialismu. Vývoj antropologického zájmu o Balkán. Brno. 2020.
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DASKALOV, Roumen a MARINOV, Tchavdar (ed.). Entangled Histories of the Balkans. National Ideologies and Language Policies. Leiden ? Boston. 2013.
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DASKALOV, Roumen a MISHKOVA, Diana (ed.). Entangled Histories of the Balkans. Volume Two: Transfers of Political Ideologies and Institutions. Leiden ? Boston. 2014.
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DASKALOV, Roumen a VEZENKOV, Alexander (ed.). Entangled Histories of the Balkans, Volume Three: Shared Pasts, Disputed Legacies. Leiden ? Boston. 2015.
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DONTCHEV DASKALOV, Roumen, MISHKOVA, Diana, MARINOV, Tchavdar a VEZENKOV, Alexander (ed.). Entangled Histories of the Balkans. Volume Four: Concepts, Approaches, And (Self-) Representations. Leiden ? Boston. 2017.
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MONTGOMERY, David W. (ed.). Everyday Life in the Balkans. Indiana. 2019.
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PRIDHAM, Geoffrey a GALLAGHER, Tom (ed.). Experimenting with Democracy: Regime Change in the Balkans. London ? New York. 2000.
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STOIANOVICH, Traian. Balkan Worlds: The First and Last Europe. Armonk ? London.
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TESAŘ, Filip. Můžeme, chceme, dokážeme? Česká ekonomická, veřejná a kulturní diplomacie a Balkán. Praha. 2013.
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TESAŘ, Filip. Západní Balkán: ?handicapovaná Evropa?. In: HLAVÁČEK, Petr a ROMANCOV. Michael (ed.). Vytěsněná Evropa? Kontexty a perspektivy evropské ?východní otázky?. Praha. 2020.
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TODOROVA, Maria. Imagining the Balkans. New York?Oxford. 1997.
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